Las Crucens share wide mixed reactions to Trump's inauguration

President Donald Trump, flanked by Vice President Mike Pence and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, signs his first executive order on health care, Friday, Jan, 20, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.(Photo: Evan Vucci/The Associated Press)

LAS CRUCES — Depending on perspectives and political philosophies Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th U.S. president, Friday was a great day or a really bad one for many Las Crucens.

Residents shared a wide range of emotions and opinions before and after Trump took the oath of office. Again, Trump's rise to the presidency polarized Las Crucens.

"This is why I am so excited today. What a great day for the United States," said Las Crucen Deb Archuleta Postier. "Per President Trump: 'To Americans: You will never be ignored again. Your voice, your hopes and your dreams will define our American destiny. Your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way. ... We will make America safe again — and yes, together, we will make American great again.'"

There didn't appear to be very much middle ground about how Las Crucens felt about Trump becoming president. Some said he should be given a chance and others believe change will be good. However, other city residents are convinced Trump's controversial campaign rhetoric and actions only affirmed negative perceptions.

"He tells it like it is. People may not want to hear that, but I like the guy for telling it straight," said Wayne Taylor, a retired machinist who was quick to say he voted for Trump. "As far as I'm concerned, the bottom line is it doesn't matter any more whether people like him or not. He's the president and that's that."

But Las Crucen Guillermo Tellez has questions and concerns about Trump's forceful demeanor.

"On TV, during the election, he didn't look or sound like someone that's going to be too tolerant of Hispanics, minorities," Tellez said. "I might not be the smartest guy, but I know enough that it's the minorities who can get someone elected president. Making people mad or scared isn't going to keep you elected. I think we could have done better."

Tellez added he didn't watch Trump's inauguration on TV because he wasn't a supporter.

"Really, I didn't have the heart, or the interest, to watch," Tellez said. "I don't know if my life and the lives of my family are going to be any better with him as president. I just don't feel good about him."

But Maxine Vasquez, a dental assistant, said she will give Trump the benefit of the doubt.

"He turned off a lot of people during the campaign. But to me, he sounds like he's softened up," said Vasquez, of Trump. "I'm going to give him a chance; what other option do I really have. I could worry about could've and should've but I'd be wasting time and spinning wheels if I did that. I'm 23, and I still have lots of hopes and dreams.

"What I'm doing now isn't something I want to be doing the rest of my life. I hope I can get a degree, get a really good job and then, hopefully, get married and have a family of my own. If Donald Trump can help me accomplish those goals, great. But if it's somebody else, then that would still be great. I've got to focus on me and do what I can to make a better life for myself."

Rather than take a stand and share her opinions, Gabriela Muñoz, said she has become weary of the debate about Trump.

"I'm not political by nature, so all of this back and forth about Trump said this or Trump did that has really begun to bore me," said Muñoz, a homemaker and mother of two children, 5 and 2. "Frankly, I'm a little more concerned that we've become less tolerant of each other. Somebody has an opinion and whether we want to hear it or not they're going to tell everybody about it. Somebody doesn't want to share their opinion and people think they're a pushover. We're losing respect for each other, and that bothers me most right now."